Help me buy a cheap guitar

[mdunn]

I travel about 2 weeks a month and most is by car or P/U truck. This July I am booked on a 6K mile trip from the humid Mid-West to the arid SW in New Mexico and Nevada, then the mountains of Colorado and back. As much as I love playing my Taylor's I really don't want to take them with me. So I have been auditioning inexpensive alternates as a travel guitar.

I have set an arbitrary limit of no more that $600.00 store price W/O a case.

The guitar will be some type of Dread or GA size model. I want tone similar to a Taylor and I want a decent amount of volume from the guitar. Electronics are not necessary.

The neck is critical as I have fairly small hands for a 6 foot tall guy. Not a good situation for a guitar player, but I am stuck with it. I have no problem playing my Taylor 12 and that is why I purchased it. Oh, it sounds nice too!

I have no interest in a cheap Martin or a Taylor Baby or a 214.

So far my search has uncovered the following. All these would serve me well.

Yamaha FG04LTD at around $300.00
Takamine EG 530 @ $449.00
Takamine EG 334SC or SBC in Black at $599.00
Ibanez AW200VV flamed maple (laminate body and solid engleman top) about $450.00 if I remember correctly.
Alvarez PD90S Rosewood and engleman $499.99
Alvarez PD80S Mahogany and engleman $499.99 A melow version of the PD90S.

I am going to try a couple of Washburn's.

What else is out there that I might want to consider?

[JohnZ]

Why not take your Ovation?

[squintbro]

Alvarez makes a great little travel guitar. About the same size as a baby Taylor, but made with all solid woods. I tried one and the sound was really good for a guitar that size. Much better then the Baby Taylors of Martin LXM. Price was the same as a Baby Taylor.

[mdunn]

I am probably going to sell or trade the Ovation. I purchased it in Sept 2002 when I returned (after a 30 year layoff) to guitar playing. I rarely play it any more. It did travel with me in the past.

Two months after I purchased the Ovation I found the Yari Alvarez in an estate sale and bid $300.00 for it. No one else bid on the guitar and late on Sunday thay called me to come get it. It is a mint condition guitar. It still had the paperwork from the original purchase in the case. I think the guy who originally purchased it; played it a few times and then quit. The equivalent Yari today street prices in the $1,500.00 range. It is a Mahogany body with a spruce top and it is a wonderful intimate guitar. I play it about 20% of the time. I don't want to risk it in travel.

[Brian 710CE]

check out the washburns. I have always liked them. A friend of mine just bought a d34s i think, and it sounded awesome. solid top, laminate RW back and sides. It couldn't hang with my 710, but it did make me nervous.......for a second. :) It was only about 370 bucks. Good luck

[masmith]

If you want playability and a guitar that won't have humidity issues that is under $600, get a Taylor 110. It will sound as good as a real high-end low-end brand guitar.

[carolina410]

If you want playability and a guitar that won't have humidity issues that is under $600, get a Taylor 110. It will sound as good as a real high-end low-end brand guitar.

I'm not so sure about a Taylor not having humidity issues (solid top and all), but...

My gut feeling also says Taylor 110 or Martin DX-1 (or even a used DM). Any of these can be had for right around your price range. I know you said you're not interested in Taylor or Martin, but the resale value will be there.

If you decide to sell the guitar after your trip, you'll get a lot more back on either a Taylor or Martin than you would a Washburn/Alvarez/Takamine etc.

If you're still convinced that a non-Taylor/Martin is for you, you may want to look at an Alvarez RD-20S. Solid-top Dread for less than $300.00.

Have fun in the search... today's "starter guitars" are much better than they used to be. I recently picked up an Alvarez RF-10 for my wife as her first guitar. This one is all-laminate, but sounds surprisingly decent. Sounds incredible for the price, though. You could buy 3 of them with your price limit!

[masmith]

The back and sides are laminate. As long as a 110 is left in the bag when not in use I am pretty sure it will be OK....

[jwieties]

I had a Tacoma road king for about 4 years. That was a fun and sturdy guitar. I left it on a stand all the time here in Colorado. It had no humidity issues (solid top - lam bask and sides). I think it is one of the loudest and best sounding guitars you will find in that price range.
-josh

[Taylorplayer]

I would also think that a Taylor 110 would "fit the bill" for you. My Big Baby works well for me as a travel guitar. That little guitar has a really big voice!

[Chicago Sandy]

Also, even though it's small, a Larrivee Parlour Guitar is loud and all solid woods. Well under $600. I also second the Big Baby. Have you looked at a used Garrison or Tacoma?

[thisisbrianly]

You have the Ibanez AW-200 shortlisted, I'd say take a look at the AW100 and AW300 as well. Both well under $600, and they all have a very bright tone similar to Taylors. I have an AW300 and I wouldn't let it go for any less than a grand...it really sounds that good. Then again, this is a totally biased opinion ;)
Peace,
Brian

[BigMo66]

Well, you have clearly stated that you are not interested in a cheap Martin or a Taylor 214, so I'm not sure why people are steering you towards a Martin "X" series? You can do much better than a formica & plastic Martin. If laminate doesn't bother you, the 110 would be a nice guitar. Have you considered a used model? Your price range would allow you the option of a nice Larrivee D-03, or maybe a Tacoma DM10 or EM9. These can be had in the $400 range! You would have an inexpensive yet all-solid guitar that will play well, sound good and keep some value.

[freestyle]

I did some extensive travel by car with my Taylor 110 in it's gig bag. about half the country, from Arkansas, thru Missouri, Iowa, and across east to the NYC area. It travels well, plays well and sounds good everywhere I take it.

[carolina410]

Well, you have clearly stated that you are not interested in a cheap Martin or a Taylor 214, so I'm not sure why people are steering you towards a Martin "X" series? You can do much better than a formica & plastic Martin. If laminate doesn't bother you, the 110 would be a nice guitar. Have you considered a used model? Your price range would allow you the option of a nice Larrivee D-03, or maybe a Tacoma DM10 or EM9. These can be had in the $400 range! You would have an inexpensive yet all-solid guitar that will play well, sound good and keep some value.

2 weeks per month travelling by car? In the trunk in the summer and winter? Color me silly, I'll take the plastic and Formica Martin or an all-laminate anything before I went solid-wood in such a situation. But hey, some folks can't accept Micarta and HPL as acceptable guitar-building materials. I understand that, but if I'm gonna leave a guitar in a trunk for any extended period of time, all-solid wouldn't be my choice.

Whatever the case, I'll bet either the Martin or the Taylor would bring back almost 90% of the purchase price in resale. That may be true as well for a Larrivee, but I doubt it would be for any other brands.

[ford1911]

Play a few Seagull's. For the money they are supposed to be some of the nicest guitars you can buy. I have only played a couple. I remember one that I played was awesome. It was one of their higher end models. I think there bread and butter is the lower end though. Like around $300. I know that If I ever want a inexpensive guitar ( less than $500.) Seagull will be one of the first I play.

[mdunn]

Update on the search as of Saturday April 3rd!

As far as the travel is concerned; the guitar will always be inside the vehicle and be in an air conditioned environment. My P/U is a Crew Cab and the Mini Van is a loaded Chrysler T&C (including rear air). It will never end up locked in a vehicle for more than an hour. While traveling I tend to "Bun & Run It". I have learned the fine art of eating Taco Bell tacos at 80 mph. :roll: So my environmental concerns are more equated to the humidity changes. On the next trip I will go from Wichita, Kansas to Santa Fe, NM in one day. I can be 80% humid in Wichita and 20% in Santa Fe. I will exercise a certain degree of environmental care with the guitar while traveling, but it will be exposed to extremes.

In some cases I will be able to carry the guitar in and out of where I will be staying but in others, like Las Vegas, it will go with the bellman with the load of equipment that I will check in. It has to be this way because the camera equipment and laptop case will go with me and I only have so many hands. :D

So, here is where I stand as of yesterday.

I played Washburn's and Seagull's. The D-34 and D-36 Washburn's were nice. The Seagull S-6 Grand Concert just sings. I really like the sound. I had a Seagull M-12 to satisfy my 12 cravings while the Taylor 855e was being built. I traded it in against the 814ce. The S-6 is a very light weight guitar and I am concerned (perhaps incorrectly) that it is fragile and might not travel well.

I replayed the Alvarez PD80 and PD90. I like the PD90. It sounds good (OEM strings are Elixr's), and it looks good too. A very classic dread. The PD 80 sounds very much like my Yari Alvarez. No need to duplicate.

The Takamine has fallen off the list. It is right at the $600.00 mark and there are better sounding guitars for less. Plus it has electronics and I don't need them. I played a Taylor 214 and it is old home week. The sound is great and the neck is what I am use to playing. Only problem (as a new guitar) it violates my $600.00 max price. I like the sound of the Yamaha, but the neck is thicker and it makes it difficult to play. The Ibanez is still on the list and I will see if anyone has the other models.

The other thing I have discovered is; cosmetically some of the cheaper Asian built guitars look better than the Seagull's and the Taylor 214's. The Ibanez has a flamed maple (laminate) body! One of the Washburn's has a beautiful quilted maple (laminate) body. They are very nice looking guitars.

I am also corresponding with someone on this board that has a used Taylor in my price range and that may end up being the solution to the problem.

I am always open for suggestions ;)

[samchar]

The Seagull S-6 Grand Concert just sings.

Before you make your purchase try the dreadnought Simon & Patrick S6 Cedar and S6 Spruce. It may overcome your concerns about some of the cosmetics (S&P doesn't have the funky Seagull headstock). Moreover, the guitars just absolutely sing. To the extent that they might be lightweight, I can tell you my S&P12 is lightweight, but it travels fine.....actually, there is something to be said for traveling with a lighter weight guitar. As for cosmetics, I can live withoout what seems like 20 coats of poly finish on most of the imports.

Based on everything I've picked off the rack, nothing tonally comes close to these in the price range. And, you've got the solid top, neck, board, and bridge for tone while having laminate sides and back which should make it a durable traveler.

[Scotto]

One of the Washburn's has a beautiful quilted maple (laminate) body. They are very nice looking guitars.....

I am always open for suggestions ;)


I posted this in another thread but it seems appropriate here as well.

here's pics of my washburn D34s Augusta

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/swishart1/guitarpics/washfront.JPG http://mywebpages.comcast.net/swishart1/guitarpics/washback.JPG

it plays nice, action is low, and it sounds alot better than you'd expect from this price range.

[mdunn]

The Washburns are nice for the money and some sound very good.

Now get this. The president/owner of Washburn Guitars lived right down the lane from me. He moved away from here a couple of years ago and I did not know that he was the owner of Washburn while he lived in the area.

Oh Well! :rolleyes:

[anothersmith]

I know you said you're not interested in a Baby Taylor, but what about a Big Baby? It's almost the size of a dread, sounds great, and has that great Taylor neck. It's not much to look at, but it makes a nice travel guitar. Only downside I see is you'd have to shell out for a hardshell case; the gig bag it comes with isn't great for travel.

[mikeo2]

mdunn,

I send you a private message. I would have tried to email you, but the feature was disabled (?)

[Taylor Daly]

How bout this one? (http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44446)

Sounds awesome and you will still have around $200 to spend on other things.

[Fstpicker]

Surprisingly no one has mentioned Blueridges or Garrisons or Olympias. These are decent sounding guitars for the money.

Seagulls are another great option IMO.

Jeff

[hamlet]

I was thinking Bllueridge too... you can get a BR-140 solid mahog. B/S solid
spruce top with case for $325 + shipping (a used sale I know of). You can
get one new with case for $400 ish plus shipping.

Here's a suggestion you have not had yet... find a used 25-year old
solid-top Yamaha. I have 3 and I love em... spent a whopping $225
on the most expensive one. The FG-460S and SA are especially
nice guitars... not overly light, but I kinda like the extra heft especially
for taking some travel bangs.

There's one selling on eBay right now... I'm trying to keep from getting
the urge to bid on it myself.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3715283444&category=33033&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBWA%3AIT&rd=1

[markm2553]

I have to throw my hat into the Seagull ring too. I have a S6 cedar and S6 Spruce. If you are going to travel, I would get the Spruce. Great sound, great action, light weight, travels great. I have grown to love the look of the head on these guitars. I'm also a little over six foot, but I have very small hands for a person my size, and the neck works great for me.
The cedar is a great guitar, but the light finish and softer top just does not travel as well. It would end up looking like "trigger" in pretty short order. I think the resale on these guitars is very good, if you don't like it after this trip, you could let it go and not loose much if anything.

[Chicago Sandy]

The S&Ps have laminated sides but solid backs. I (actually my son) has the Pro Rosewood dread, and it is very sensitive to low humidity--we've had it in the shop, lying atop an electric room humidifier for a month, to repair a back seam crack as well as a binding separation. After refilling the Dampit weekly for two months, and keeping it cased in our basement (damp & cool), the cracks still reopened. Granted, my son originally abused it by keeping it out on a stand in his hot, dry bedroom for weeks on end, but the repair should have "taken." Despite the cracks, it still sounds nice--but it is a fairly heavy guitar, IMHO.

[php74]

How about a used Takamine 360s series you can find them for 500. They are solid rosewood and spruce. Guild also has the dv52 which is solid rosewood and spruce for around 600.

[MadeintheUSA]

that alvarez pd100 youve been trying out is a great travel guitar. i have a md95 that is my travel guitar. does the trick and sounds taylorlike

[catndahats]

Hi there,

For the money, I like the Yamahas...and you would have a good sized chunk of change left over for "other" fun diversions.

Another thought...regarding the neck, etc...while I'm not fond of them personally, my son's Ovation Celebrity was moderately priced, and the neck is smaller (as I remember)...the plastic back may (maybe?) be a plus as far as durability in the various climates.

Personally, I took my 612C on an 8 week Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California (south to north) , and then on up to Puget Sound and back car camping / kayaking trip last summer with no ill effects. However, I'll temper that boast with the sidenote that I never, never left it in the trunk in the West Texas heat, etc...

Good luck on your search.

CAT

I travel about 2 weeks a month and most is by car or P/U truck. This July I am booked on a 6K mile trip from the humid Mid-West to the arid SW in New Mexico and Nevada, then the mountains of Colorado and back. As much as I love playing my Taylor's I really don't want to take them with me. So I have been auditioning inexpensive alternates as a travel guitar.

I have set an arbitrary limit of no more that $600.00 store price W/O a case.

The guitar will be some type of Dread or GA size model. I want tone similar to a Taylor and I want a decent amount of volume from the guitar. Electronics are not necessary.

The neck is critical as I have fairly small hands for a 6 foot tall guy. Not a good situation for a guitar player, but I am stuck with it. I have no problem playing my Taylor 12 and that is why I purchased it. Oh, it sounds nice too!

I have no interest in a cheap Martin or a Taylor Baby or a 214.

So far my search has uncovered the following. All these would serve me well.

Yamaha FG04LTD at around $300.00
Takamine EG 530 @ $449.00
Takamine EG 334SC or SBC in Black at $599.00
Ibanez AW200VV flamed maple (laminate body and solid engleman top) about $450.00 if I remember correctly.
Alvarez PD90S Rosewood and engleman $499.99
Alvarez PD80S Mahogany and engleman $499.99 A melow version of the PD90S.

I am going to try a couple of Washburn's.

What else is out there that I might want to consider?